Follow-up actuating mechanism for pressing machines



July 23, i935.

FOLLOW-UP ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR PRESS'ING MACHINES Original Filed Feb.25, 1929 E. DAVIS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 @www ATTORNEY.

July 23, 1935. E, DAVls 2,008,752

FOLLOW-UP ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR PRESSING MACHINES Original Filed Feb.25, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 N a WM/NTOR.

B M h A TTORNE Y.

Patented July 23, 1935 rArsNr *oFFIc FOLLOW-UP ACTUATNG MECHANISM FOR lPRESSING MACHINES Y Ernest Davis, Syracuse, N. Y., assignor to The VProsperity Company, Enc., Syracuse, N. Yga

corporation of New York Appucanen February 23, 1929, serial No.' 342,222

` Renewed November l2, 1931 22 Claims.

This invention relates to garment, ironing and laundry presses,A and anobject is to attain uniform pressure on the work between the press jawseven though the pad on the buck gradually yields and gives away or thinsdown due to usage.

soV

In laundry and garment pressing machines, the paddingy on one or both ofthe pressing elements 0r jaws gradually becomes thinner in the use ofthe machine. .Temporary thinning or compression results when each padcompresses during each operation of the press, but the pad thinningreferred to here is permanent and results from continued use, so that itgets a permanent set which gradually increases with additional use ofthe press. This thinning of the padding causes the pressure between thepressing elements to vary or to continually decrease gradually. Mostpressing `machines have manually operable adjusting means forcompensatingY for the thinning or permanent compression of the paddingand the adjustment depends entirely on the will or" the operator who mayor maynot make the adjustment when it should be made.

This invention has for its object a particularly simple and eiiicientactuating mechanism by which a substantially uniform pressure isdelivered regardless of the thickness of the work or of the amount ofcompression of ther padding used on one or both of the pressingelements; and more particularly an actuating mechanism which has anautomatic follow-up action to compensate ior the decrease in thicknessof the padding due to the permanent setting of the padding.

The invention consists in the novel lfeatures and in the'cornbinations.and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed. l

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanyingdrawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in allthe views. y

Figure lis a side elevation, partly broken away, of a pressing machineembodying one form of this invention. v Figure 2 is a fragmentary rearYelevation looking to the left of Figure l.`y 1

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view through the joint or knee of atoggle employed toropen and close the press.

Figures 4 and 5 are fragmentary views, partly in section, illustrating amodied form of the mechanism shown in Figure l.

Figure 6 illustrates an additional modied form.

Figure 7 is an end View, partly in section, of the structure shown inFigure 5. l

This pressing machine comprises, generally, co-

and a release lever Iii.

(o1. css- 9) operatingpressing elements, or press jaws,-one of which ismovable toward and from the other, an actuator or `motor means, andmotion transmitting means between the actuator and the movable element.The motion transmitting means comprise driving and driven membersforming initial closing means and normally idle differential or jawcompressing means connecting them and arranged to act when the movableelement of the press engages andencounters the resistance of the otherelement. Through that part of the movement of the movable element, priorto its engagement with-the other pressing element or jaw or during theclosing movement of the press,

said members act in one relation to transmit the motion of one memberdirectly to the other and upon the movable element contacting with theother element, the members coact in another relation through thedii'erential means or reduction leverage. These two actions permit thedriving member to move at a greater speed and through va greaterdistanceithan the driven member and thereby translate the greatermovement thereof into a movement of lesser extent and with more powerorV increased vpressure when the.. movable element moves under finalpressure-and is compressing the padding. Y Y

vI have here shownv my invention as embodied in a conventional type ofpressing machine comprising upper and lower pressing elements or jaws asthe head i which is movablevtoward and from a stationary buck 2 suitablymounted on a frame 3. The head is supported in the usual manner at thefront end oi a yoke lever-4 which is pivoted between its ends at 5 to astandard G rising from the frame. l

The press here illustrated is power actuated Vthrough motor means as bya suitable single-mocylinder 'l is controlled in any suitable'manner asby valves which are operatedby a push button 9 The valves and thecontrols therefor form no part of this invention.

The motion transmitting means between the actuator '8 or motormeans 1and the head l, in addition to the yoke lever A, comprises driving anddriven members forming initial closing means and anormally idledifferential orjaw. compressing means carried thereby. The driving anddriven members are here shown as toggle links I I and I 2 pivotedrespectively at I3 and Ill to the base of the frame and to the rear armof the yoke lever 1I and pivotally connected together. The pivot alsocooperates with a reduction, differential mechanism or jaw compressingmeans as will be described. The actuator, or piston rod B is pivoted atI5 to the driving link I I.

The reduction gearing, differential mechanism, or jaw compressingmeans'here illustrated comprises a cam i6 associated with one of thelinks and a follower or roller` I'I movable along the cam and associatedwith the other link, the cam I6 extending at an angle to the directionof the thrust or lifting movement of the toggle link I2V or in thedirection of the movement of the joint of the toggle. In other words,the cam I5 is eccentric to the pivot I3 with its left end a greaterdistance from the pivot I3 than itsright end, as viewed from the side ofthe press in Figure 1.

Means are provided for holding or locking the cam I6 and the follower IIfrom relative movement during the' straightening of the toggle II-I2,until the head encounters the resistance of the buck or pad thereon whenreaching preliminary closed position. This means comprises a shoulder orroller I22L carried by the link I2 which thrusts against the link I Itogether with a gear wheel I3 mounted on one side of the follower I'iand meshing with a rack I9 extending along the slot I6 and also includesmeans for normally locking the gear wheel I8 from rotation. As seen inFigure 3, this diierential locking means is a brake wheel 2B alsomounted on and movable with the follower I'I and gear wheel I8 and abrake member 2 I normally engaged with the wheel 20, the brake memberbeing operable out of its holding or braking position by the reaction ofthe head when it encounters the buck 2.

The toggle link I2 is formed of two sections arranged end to end with acompression spring or other yielding means 22 between them, as shown inFigure 3, and the brake 2|' is carried by and movable with the sectionof the link I2 which is connected to the yoke lever 4.

The roller I2a above referred to is carried at the lower end of thelower section of the link I2 and normally thrusts against the end wallI2b of the wall of the cam slot IB (see Figure l) to prevent movement ofthe cam along the slot when the initial starting impulse is given to thetoggle links II, I2 to overcome the inertia of the stationary head andstart it in motion. As the links II, I2 initially straighten, the rollerI2av rides out of engagement with the end wall I2b and thereafter thefollower II and the cam I 6 are held from relative movement bythe brakewheel 2U and brake member 2I.

Obviously, when the toggle links I I, I2 are actuated toward a straightline, the cam follower I'I will beheld from movement along the slot I6so that the toggle links will act solely as a toggle. When, however, thehead I presses against the buck 2 with a predetermined pressure, thespring 22 between the sections of the link I2 will be cornpressed, thatis, the link I2 will shorten, moving the brake member 2I out of coactionwith the brake wheel 20, thus permitting the follower I1 to move alongthe slot I6 or rather permitting the slot to move along the follower.movement, the cam I6 will thrust the link I 2 upwardly and further pressthe head I against the buck 2 duringlrearward movement of the link IIrelatively to the link I2, the amount of relative movement. of the camfollower ,I1 and slot I6 de- During such pending upon the amount ofpadding on one or the other of the pressing elements is compressed.

Means is also provided for locking the initial closing means orparticularly the driven member or link I2 of the toggle from swingingmovement while the reduction or differential mechanism is acting andthis locking means is controlled by the compression of a resilientmounting such as the padding on the buck 2.

As shown in Figure l, a locking bolt 23 extends vertically through thebuck and into the padding and has a head 24 at its upper end underlyingthe top surface of the pad. The lower end of the bolt coacts with a rackZta connected by a link 25 to the toggle link I2 but the bolt 23 is heldnormally in its retracted position, or out of engagement with the rackby a spring 2&5 so that the rack moves rearwardly as the press closes.When the pad compresses, it moves the bolt into engagement with the rackand thus holds link I2 in its place or against pivotal movement whilelink II moves rearwardly to exert upward thrust against the link I2.Obviously, this' operation can take place only after the toggle links IIand I2 have moved toward straightened position far enough to bring thehead I down on the buck 2 where it starts to compress the pad. The rack2da is slidably mounted so 'as` to move rearwardly while the togglelinks are straightening.

It will be noted that the initial closing means of the motiontransmitting means or the toggle links II and I2 are moved topreliminary closed position without the toggle links reachingstraightened position or the limit of their extent of movement. In otherwords, the toggle or initial closing means has a greater extent ofmovement than is necessary to bring the jaws I and 2 together. With thisconstruction provision is made for mashing of the pad on the buck 2 orVa permanent set being sustained by the resilient mounting, in that thetoggle can continue to close until the jaws are preliminarily engaged,irrespective of the amount of mashing which has taken place in the pad.The locking means is operated or controlled by the jaws engaging andthereby prevents further operation of the toggle or initial closingmeans of the motion transmitting means whereupon the jaw compressingmeans or differential mechanism is set into operation.

In Figures l and 5, the locking bolt 27 is shown as operated by adiaphragm 28 in a diaphragm chamber 29, the pressure side of which isconn nected by a pipe 3U to a suitable source of com*- pressed air. Theflow of air to the diaphragm chamber is controlled by a normallyclosed.'spring pressed, intake valve 3| in a valve casing 32, this valve beingoperated by a rod 33 extending vertin cally through the buck and intovthe padding so as to be depressed by the compression of the padding.The intake valve 3i is coupled with a normally open exhaust valve 34.The bolt 21 is secured to a collar 35 having a square hole thereinthrough which a rod 36 extends, this rod performing the function of therack 24. When the bolt 27 is depressed, it causes the wall of the squarehole to bind on the rod 3B and Valso causes the rod 35 to bind on thewalls of the guide passage 3l through which the rod 3S slides.

Obviously, when the rod 33 is depressed by the compression of thepadding, the exhaust valve 311 will be closed and the intake valve 3Iopened, so that air is free to pass from the intake pipe 28 through thevalve casing 32 and outlet pipe 39 to the pipe 30 to actuate thediaphragm 28. The

rcontrolled by the compressing of the pad. In

this form of the invention, the yoke lever 4 is pivotedY at 5 in anupwardly movable sliding bearing block 4t, the movement of the bearingblock upwardly being against the action of a spring 4l. Obviously, whenthe head comes down under pressure on the buck, the pivot of the levercarrying the head tends to move upwardly under the lifting force appliedto the rear arm of the lever.

The upward movement of the pivot or bearing block 49 is utilized tooperate valves located in the valve casing 42 through suitable motiontransmitting parts as levers 43, 44 and a link 45 connecting them. Theair passing through the valve casing 42, passes to the diaphragm chamber29 and operates the bolt 21 as before described. The valve casing 42andl the valves therein are substantially the same as the valve casing32 with valves 3| and 34 therein.

This invention is particularly advantageous in that a practicallyuniform pressure is automatically delivered regardless of the thicknessof the work and the compression or mashing of the pad within limits andwithout any attention or adjustments on the part of the operator becausethe motion transmitting means acts only to the eX- tent necessary tocompensate for the compressionof the padding. Thereafter the dierentialmechanism or jaw compressing meansdelivers its compression movementtothe movable jaw and applies substantially uniform pressure because themotor means delivers uniform power and thefcam means in having aconstant rate of increase or a fixed inclination necessarily deliversuniform pressure. In some instances, with a new thick padding, thedifferential mechanism may act toalmost its full extent and` in othercases, it will act very little. It will act between these extremes tovarious degrees depending upon the thickness of lthe worker thev amountof compression of the padding. l

In operation, the operator lays the work on the buck, depresses the pushbutton 9 and the press yhead closes by the `straightening movementV ofthe toggle links Il and l2. Thereafter, `when the head encounters theresistance of the buck, nal heavy pressure is applied from motor means'l by'the'diiferential or follow-up movement ef- `fected by the cam I6and the follower ll, because the pin 23 locks the rack 24a to hold theupper link l2 against further rearward travel, but lower link ll isdriven further, as noted in right hand dotted line position, to boostupwardly on link l2 to effect final jaw compression.v It will be obviousthat the pin 23 also locks the'upper link l2 against forward movementwhich would tend to fold vthe toggle as the upward pressure exerted bythe cam I6 increases.

Compensation for pad wear andfdiminishing thickness thereof so as tomaintain uniform compression ofthe pad and work is obtained by thefeeler head 24 which is mounted under the pading of the buck. Thisfeeler head 24 is sensitive to Yand detects the contact of the movablepressing element with the upper pad surface and hence as the padwearsand flattens, it follows that the toggle is allowed to straightenfurther rearwardly to lower the movable pressing element further andfurther to follow up the gradually. thinning padding on the buck. A

To open the press,.the operator operates the release lever I0, so thatthe press is free to open under the action of the countersprings 46.

What I claim is:

1. In a pressing machine, cooperating pressing elements, one of which ismovable toward and from the other, an actuator, motion transmittingmeans between the actuator and the movable element comprising drivingand driven members, differential means connecting the driving and drivenmembers to normally transmit the motion of one directlyto the other, andmeans operable by the pressure between the pressing elements to controlthe operation ofthe differential means.

2. In a pressing machine, cooperating pressing elements, one of which ismovable toward and from the other, an actuator; motion transmittingmeans between the actuator and the movable elementr comprisingV drivingand driven members, normally idle differential means connecting thedriving and driven members, means normally locking the differentialmeans from operation, and means controlled by the final pressuremovement to release the'locking means.

3. In a pressing machine, cooperating pressing elements, one of which ismovable toward and from the other, an actuator, motion transmittingmeans between the actuator and the movable element comprising drivingand driven members', normally idle differential means connecting thedriving and driven members, means normally locking the differentialmeans from operation, and means controlled by the nnal pressing movementofvsaidy elements for locking the driven member from movement with thedriving member while the differential means is operated.

4. In a pressing machine, cooperating pressing elements, one of `whichis movable toward and from the other,'at least one of the pressingelementsbeing compressible, an actuator, and motion transmitting meansbetween the actuator and the movable element comprising driving anddriven members, normally idle diiferential means connecting them, andmeans operable by the pressure between the pressing elements to controlthe operation of the differential means.

5. In a pressing machine, cooperating pressing elements, one of which ismovable toward and from the other, one having a compressible pad', anactuator, motion transmitting means between the actuator and the movableelement comprising driving and driven members and normally idledifferential means connecting them and arranged to act during thecompressing o-f the pad, means for normally locking the` differentialmeans from operation, and means controlled by the resistance of the padto the 'movable element to release the locking means.

6. In a pressing machine, cooperating pressing elements, o-ne of whichis movable toward and from the other, one having a `compre's'siblel pad,an actuator, motion transmittingmeans between the actuator and themovable element comprising driving and driven members and normally idlediiferential means' connecting them and arranged to act during thecompressing of the pad, and means controlled by the compression of thepad to hold the driven member from movement with the driving member whenthev differential means is free to act. l

"7. In apressing machine, cooperating'pressing elements, one of which ismovable toward and from the other, an actuator, motion transmittingmeans between the actuator and-the movable element comprising togglelinks, the actuator being connected to one link to straighten thetoggle, the joint between the vtoggle links comprising a cam on one linkextending at an angle to the straightening movement of the toggle, and afollower on the other link adapted to roll on the cam when the movablepressing element encounters the resistance of the other pressingelement.

8. In a pressing machine, cooperating pressing elements, one of which ismovable toward and from the other, an actuator, motion transmittingmeans between the actuator and the movable element comprising togglelinks, the actuator being connected to one link to straighten thetoggle, the toggle embodying a yielding connection arranged to yieldduring the straightening of the toggle when the movable elementencounters the resistance .of the other element, the joint between thetoggle links comprising a cam o-n one link extending at an angle to thestraightening movement of the toggle and a follower on the other linkmovable along the cam when the movable element encounters the resistanceof the other element, a lock normally holding the follower and the camfrom relative movement one along the other, and means operated by theyielding of said connection for releasing the lock.

9. In a pressing machine, cooperating pressing elements, one of which ismovable toward and from the other, one. of said elements having acompressible pad, an actuator, motion transmitting means between theactuator and the movable element comprising toggle links, the actuatorbeing connected to one link to straighten the toggle, and the toggleembodying a yielding connection arranged to yield. during thestraightening of the toggle when the movable element encounters theresistance of the other element, the joint between the toggle linkscomprising a cam on one link arranged at an angle to the straighteningmovement of the toggle and a follower on the other link movable alongthe cam when the movable element encounters the resistance of the otherelement, a lock normally holding the follower and cam from relativemovement one along the other, means operated by the yielding of saidconnection for releasing the lock, and means operated bythe compressionor" the pad to hold one of the links from swinging movement when the padcompresses.

1G. In a pressing machine, cooperating pressing elements, one of whichis movable toward and from the other, an actuator, motion transmittingmeans between the actuator and the movable. element comprising drivingand driven members, a yielding connection arranged to yield when themovable element encounters a predetermined resistance in its closingmovement, a normally idle differential means connecting the driving andthe driven members, means normally locking the differential means frommovement, and means operated by theA yielding of said connection torelease the diierential locking means.

1l. In a pressing machine, cooperating pressing elements, one of whichis movable toward and from the other, one of said elements having ayielding pad thereon, an actuator, motion transmitting means between theactuator and the movable element comprising driving and driven members,a yielding connection arranged to yield when the movable elementencounters a predetermined resistance in its closing movement, anormally idle diierential means connecting the driving and drivenmembers,4 means normally locking the diiierentialmeans lfor movement,means operated by the yielding of said connection to release thedierential locking means, and means controlled by the yielding ci thepad to lock the driven member from its normal move-- nient from thedriving member whenithe difierential means is acting. f

l2. In a pressing machine, cooperating pressing elements, one of whichis movable toward and `from the other, an actuator, motion transmittingmeans between Vthe actuator and the movable element comprising togglelinks, the actuator being connected to one link to straighten thetoggle, the joint between'the toggle links comprising a cam on one linkextending at an angle to the straightening movement of the toggle and afollower on the other link'movable along the cam when the movableelement encounters the resistance of the other element, a rack extendingalong the cam, and a pinion meshing with the rack and connected to thecam follower.

18. In a pressing machine, cooperating pressing elements, one of whichis movable toward and from the other, an actuator, motion transmittingmeans between the actuator and the Inovable element comprising togglelinks, the actuator being connected to one link to straighten thetoggle, the joint between the toggle links comprising a cam on one linkextending at an angle to the straightening movementoi the .toggle and avfollower onthe other link being movable along the when the movableelement encounters the resistance of the other element, a rack eX-tending along the cam, the follower having a pinion meshing with therack, means normally holding the pinion from rotation, and meansoperated by the resistance to the closing of the toggle when the movableelement presses on the other element to release the holding means.

1li. In a pressing machine, cooperating pressing elements, one of whichis movable toward and from the other, an actuatoig'mction transmittingmeans between the actuator and the movable element comprising togglelinks, the actuator being connected to one link to straighten thetoggle, the joint between the toggle links comprising a cam on one linkextending at an angle to the straightening movement of the toggle and afollower on the other link being movable along the cam when the movableelement encounters the resistance of the other element, a rack extendingalong the cam, the follower having a pinion meshing with the rack, thetoggle embodying an endwise compressible section, a spring normallyresisting endwise compression of said section, a lock normally holdingthe pinion from rotation, and connections between said section and thelock to release the latter when the section compresses.

l5. In a garment press, a single actuator, and a single powertransmitting mechanism between the actuator and a press jaw includingalmember for operating the latter, said actuator connecting with one vendof said member whereby initial closing movement of the press is eiTectedby movement of said end of the member with the actuator and a finalpressure of the press is effected by continued movement of the actuatorrelative to the end of said member, iiuid pressure means for operatingthe actuator, the actuator having means initially forming a positiveconnection between it and said member to effect the preliminary closingof the press, and cam means on the actuator acting on said member fortransmitting differential movement of the actuator to said member duringthe nal closing of the press and thereby utilizing the substantiallyfull movement of the fluid pressure means in transmitting the motionthereof through a reduced leveragev to said member.

16. A garment or ironing press comprising cooperating pressing jaws oneof which s movable towards and away from the other, one of the pressingjaws having a resilient mounting, motor means, Ya toggle connecting themotor means with the movable pressing jaw to close the press to apreliminary closed position, the toggle having a greater extent oi'movement thany necessary to bring the pressing jaws together, lockingmeans operable upon pressure being exerted between the pressing jawswhen the movable pressing jaw l reaches preliminary closed position andlocking jaw compressing means cooperating with thev initial closingmeans and producing pressure between the pressing jaws, and meanscontrolled by the movement of the compressible'pad when the pressingjaws engage for controlling the actuation of the jaw compressing means.

13. An ironing or pressing machine comprising cooperating pressing jawshaving a compressible pad upon at least one of the jaws, one of the jawsbeing movable toward and from the other, an actuator; motiontransmitting` means between the actuator and the movable jaw to closethe press,

including initial closing means which operate until the pressing jawsengage, the initial closing means having a movable member, and jawcompressing means connected with the actuator and.

impelling the movable member substantially longitudinally for producingpressure between the pressing jaws; and means controlled by the movementof the compressible pad when the pressing jaws engage for holding themovable member against any pivotal movement other than that needed toobtain substantially only longitudinal movement thereof and therebycontrolling the actuation of the jaw compressing means.

19. An rironing' or pressing machine comprising cooperating pressingjaws having a compressible pad upon at least one of the jaws, one of thejaws being movable toward and from the other, an actuator, motiontransmitting means to close the press connected between the actuator andthe movable pressing jaw; the motion transmitting means includinginitial closing means which operate until thepressing jaws engage, theinitial closing means having a member which pivots substantially duringthe initial closing movement, and jaw compressing means cooperating withthe pivoted member of the initial closing means to move the samesubstantially Y longitudinally with only such pivotal movement as isnecessary'to obtain the longitudinal movement; and means controlled bythe movement of the compressible pad when the pressing jaws engage forholding the pivoted member against the aforesaid substantial pivotalmovement other than that necessary to obtain substantially onlylongitudinal movement thereof and thereby controlling the actuation ofthe jaw compressing means.

20. A garment or ironing press comprising cooperating pressing jaws oneof which'is movable towards and away from the other, one of thepressingl jaws having a resilient mounting, motor means, motiontransmitting means connecting the motorV means with the movable pressingjaw including initial closing means to close the press to a preliminaryclosed position with the jaws in contact, the initial closing meanshaving a greater extent of movement than necessary to ring the pressingjaws together, means operable upon pressure being exerted between thepressing jaws when the movable pressing jaw reaches preliminaryclosedposition for locking the initial` closing means against furtheroperation, andjaw compressing means operatively connected between the:motor means and the movable pressing jaw and controlled by the lockingvof the initial closing means to apply nal jaw compression.

2l. A garment or ironing press comprising cooperating pressing jaws one`of which is movable towards and away from the other, one of the pressingjaws having a resilient mounting, motion transmitting means connectedwith the mov- Vable pressing jaw including initial closing means toyclose the press to a preliminary closed position, the initial closingmeans having a greater extent of movement than necessary to bring thepressing jaws together, locking means operable upon pressure beingexerted between the pressing jaws when the movable pressing jaw reachesYpreliminary closed position and locking the in- .tial closing meansagainst further operation, a

single motor,v and'jaw compressing means carried by the initial closingmeans and operatively connected with the motor whereby the initialclosing means is operated through the connection with the motor and thejaw compressing means becomes operable to apply nal jaw compression bythe locking of the initial closing means.

22. A garment or ironing press comprising cooperating pressing jaws oneof which is movable towards and away from the other, one of the pressingjaws having a resilient mounting, a toggle connected with the movablepressing jaw to close the press to a preliminary closed position, thetoggle being in bent position at all times irrespective of mashing ofthe resilient mounting and the thickness of the work, locking meansoperable upon pressure being exerted between the pressing jawsA when themovable pressing jaw reaches preliminary closed position for locking thetoggle against vfurther closing movement, a single motor, and jawcompressing means carried by the toggle and operatively connectedwith'the motor whereby the toggle is operated through the connection ofthe motor therewith and the jaw compressing means is operated to applyfinal jaw compression by the locking of the toggle.

ERNEST DAVIS.

